Adjustable vibration isolater

ABSTRACT

A vibration isolating and friction gripping device having resilient spring elements in frictional interengagement during operating conditions including means for changing the spring rate either through the use of resilient elements of differing spring rates or the use of concave washers of differing sizes. The device also includes a movable dial to provide leveling adjustability of an object mounted on the device without requiring lifting of the object by other means.

United States Paten Kenneth W. Johnson 4113 Lakeshore Drive, Rte 1,Jamestown, Ohio 45335 June 13,1968

Aug. 24, 1971 Division ofSer. No. 654,351,]uly 11, 1966, Pat. No.3,337.167.

Continuation-impart of applimtion Ser. No. 665,133, July 21, 1967, nowPatent No. 3,417,950, dated Dec. 24, 1968, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 402,587, Oct. 8, 1964, nowPatent No. 3,288,405, dated Nov. 29, 1966, which is a continyation-in-part of application Ser. No. 177,037, Mar. 2, 1962, now abandoned.This application June 13, 1968, Ser. No. 736,745

[72] inventor [21 1 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [54] ADJUSTABLEVIBRATION ISOLATIER 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 248/24, 248/ 1 88.9 [5i] lnt.Cl Fl6f3/10 [50] Field 01Search 248/24,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 611,260 9/1898 Lamoureux248/1884 1,123,960 1/1915 Von Derlin 248/1884 2,602,616 7/1952 Helmond248/24 2,607,590 8/1952 Wheaton 248/24 UX 2,778,628 1/1957 Johnson 267/12,921,760 1/1960 Wheeler 248/24 3,332,647 7/1967 Young 248/24 2,009,7217/1935 Wi11iams.... 248/363 UX 2,155,341 4/1939 Wayne 248/362 FOREIGNPATENTS 637,263 5/1950 Great Britain 248/358 Primary Examiner-Roy D.Frazier A!t0rney-1rvin V. Gleim ABSTRACT: A vibration isolating andfriction gripping device having resilient spring elements in frictionalinterengagement during operating conditions including means for changingthe spring rate either through the use of resilient elements ofdiffcring spring rates or the use of concave washers of differing sizes.The device also includes a movable dial to provide levelingadjustability of an object mounted on the device without requiringlifting of the object by other means.

PATENTEU AUE24I97I 3,601, 345

SHEET 1 [IF 2 FigJ- I F195 INVENTOR. KEN/JET W JOHN$0N ATTMPA/[YPATENTEU AUB24 19m 3501; 345

' sum 2 0F 2 INVENTOR. KENNETH Ml JOHNSON ADJUSTABLE VIBRATION ISOLATERCROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is acontinuation-impart of copending application Ser. No. 665,133 filed July21, 1967 for Vibration Isolator, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,950 issued Dec.24, 1968, which was a division of a prior application Ser. No. 564,351filed July 11, 1966 for Vibration Isolator, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,337,167issued Aug. 22, 1967, which, in turn, was a continuation-in-part of anearlier application Ser. No. 402,587 filed Oct. 8, 1964 for VibrationIsolator, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,288,405 issued Nov. 29, 1966, whichearlier application was a continuation-in-part of a prior applicationSer. No. 177,037 filed Mar. 2, 1962 for Vibration Isolator and GrippingDevice, now abandoned.

FIELD AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to avibration-isolating and friction gripping device for reducing thetransmissibility of vibration from an object supported thereon and forsimultaneously gripping a supporting surface.

In general, there is provided a vibration isolator device having asupport surface and having connected thereto an elongated member, thedistal end portion of which is provided with suitable means forconnection to an object to be mounted thereon. Additionally, there isprovided a member rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the elongatedmember for adjustable positioning of said member relative to the supportsurface of the device or an object supported by the device so as tochange the loading or supporting area'. Additionally, provision is madefor modifying the spring rate of the vibration isolator portion of thedevice through the use of concave washers of differing sizes.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel resilientmounting for business machines, test equipment, electronic equipment andthe like and which, when attached to such device or machine, providescorrect spring strength or rate at a loading point so that vibration ofthe device or machine is absorbed or dissipated by such mounting, thusreducing the transmissibility of the vibration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vibration isolatingmounting which is readily adaptable for use with devices or certainmachines of differing rates, sizes and vibration factors by use ofresilient elements having differing spring rates and/or by utilizationof concave washers of differing sizes to modify the spring rate of suchresilient elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vibration isolatingmounting including a resilient device and means for connecting themounting to an object and having means readily operable independent ofthe resilient device to adjustably position such an object relative to asupporting surface.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described whichmay be fitted directly to certain machines and equipment to provide thesynergistic vibration-absorbent frictionally engaging action wherebysuch machines and equipment cause the device to expand under load andthus exert increasing frictional engagement or gripping action relativeto a supporting surface as the spring component of the device spreadsunder increased loading.

DESCRIPTION Other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating aplurality of units of the present invention supporting an object mountedthereon;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view illustrating a modification of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one embodiment of a device of the presentinvention generally designated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a device of this invention shownin FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the vibrationisolator portion of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an embodiment of a device of this inventiongenerally designated in FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the embodiment of a device ofthe present invention generally designated in FIGS. 2 and 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

With reference to FIG.- 1, certain machines and/or equipment such aswashers, dryers, typewriters, business machines, etc. are provided withinternal nut plate to facilitate the mounting of such devices by meansof bolts or screws. As is shown in FIG. 2, certain other machines andequipment are provided with an external flange 2 having clearance holestherein for the mounting and securing of such devices by means of screwsor bolts. 7

Referring to the drawings, a mounting in accordance with the presentinvention is generally designated by numeral 10 and includes a mountingfoot portion 11 and an upright member 12 having a threaded portion 13 ofsuitable size for being threadedly received by nut plate 1.

As is best illustrated in FIG. 5, the foot portion 11 is a composite ofa plurality of individual members or elements 14, 15 connected togetherto provide a unitary member which functions in a springlike manner.Elements 14 and 15 are formed of a yieldable metal material andpreferably are formed of wire-screenlike material or of woven metalcloth with the individual elements 14, 15 of concave-convex shape andangularly disposed relative to one another so that each individualelement constitutes in itself a spring and because of the interweavingof such elements, each foot portion 11 constitutes a plurality ofsprings in itself. Foot portion 11 and its elements l4, 15 are moldedand encased within a casing 16 of rubber or rubberlike material havingresiliency characteristics so that the composite of foot member 11 andcasing 16 likewise constitutes a plurality of interconnected springlikemembers.

In an ordinary spring, made of metal wire, the spring rate or gradientis a function of a diameter of the spring wire. Similarly, the springrate or gradient of a rubber springlike member is a function of therelative hardness or softness of the material. In accordance with thepresent invention, the coaction of elements l4, l5 and the material ofcasing 16 is such that the foot portion 11 constitutes a compositespring, the spring rate or gradient of which is a function of thediameter or diameters of elements l4, 15, the hardness of material ofcasing 16, and additionally is varied and/or modified because of thepresence of casing material encompassed within the quadrilateralstructure formed between adjacent pairs of interwoven elements 14, 16which material must be compressed in one direction and elongated in anopposite direction in order to deflect the composite spring.

As a vibration isolator, the structure of composite foot 11 alsomodifies the friction damping characteristics of interwoven elements 14,15. The presence of the'casing material encompassed within thequadrilateral structure provides a very substantially increased dampingcharacteristic as compared to the relatively small amount of dampingobtainable from mere interweaving of elements 14, 15.

An integral annular flange 17 having a flat bottom surface 18 surroundsthe bottom of foot member 11 and provides a frictional gripping surface,the grip of which is increased in accordance with an increase ofpressure applied at the top of the concave-convex foot member. A centralopening at the apex of the foot member and extending through the casingmaterial 16 accommodates a rivet 19 for securing the foot portion 11 toother portions of the mounting 10,

As is best shown in FIG. 4, dial member 22 is integrally connectcd to orjoined with member 12. In one way of achieving such connection, forexample, dial or disclike member 22 is provided with a central squareopening to admit square shoulder 21 and to retain the enlarged headportion 20 of member 12. A support bracket 23 of general U-shaped crosssection as shown in FIG. 4 is secured to the underside of dial ordisclike member 22 by rivets 24. The enlarged head portion 20 isretained between the underside of dial or disclike member 22 and bracket23 which is also secured to the foot portion 1 1 by rivet 19.

In the event that it is desired to provide differing spring rates toaccommodate machines of different sizes, weights and vibration factors,a foot portion 11 having a different composite spring rate may beemployed. Alternatively, it may be desirable to employ more or lessstandardized foot portions 1 1 and to modify the composite spring ratethereof to accommodate different machines. This is accomplished inaccord with the invention by interposing between bracket 23 and footportion 11 a concave washer 25 which substantially matches the domelikeshape of foot portion 1 1. In this manner, various load ranges can beaccommodated by use of such concave washers in differing sizes toprovide contact areas and thus modify the spring rate by changing theloading area. Also, if desired, a washer 26 may be interposed betweenthe underside of foot portion 11 and rivet 19.

From the foregoing, use and operation of the device will be evident. Toutilize the device of the present invention on a particular machine orequipment, threaded portion 13 of mounting is screwed into nut plate 1of the machine or equipment to be supported thereby, using as manymountings 10 as may be required and provided for in nut plate 1 of themachine or equipment. The machine or equipment with mounting 10 thusinstalled is then placed upon a supporting surface with surface 18 offoot portion 11 in contact with such supporting surface. Any adjustmentsthat may be required in order to level the machine or equipment arereadily and easily effected merely by rotating dial or disclike member22. Because member 22 is integrally connected to member 12, suchrotation advances or retracts threaded portion 13 into or away from nutplate 1 of the machine or equipment. If desired, dial or disclike member22 may be provided with a depending flange 27 having openings 28 thereinfor receiving a tool to facilitate rotation of dial 22. Additionally, itis contemplated that flange 27 may be provided with a gripping surfacesuch as a rubber ring or the like to further facilitate hand rotation ofdial 22. Thus, the machine or equipment may be readily raised or loweredby effecting rotation of the dial without lifting the machine orequipment by other means.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, member 12 is insertedthrough the central opening of foot portion 11 and rivet 19 is replacedby a nut 190 which is threadly engaged with the threaded portion 13 ofmember 12 to secure it to foot portion 11. Additionally, bracket 23 isreplaced by a nut 22a which may be' welded or otherwise joined to thedial or disclike member 22 so that rotation thereof results in itsadvance or retraction relative to the threaded portion 13. Such modifiedmountings are generally designated by numeral 10a, and except for suchdifferences, are identical with mountings 10. Use and operation ofmountings 10a is generally similar to that described above. However,mountings 10a are installed by inserting the threaded portion 13 throughthe clearance hole provided in an external flange 2 of the equipment tobe mounted thereon and securing the mounting by a nut 3 which threadedlyengages threaded portion 13 as best shown in FIG. 2. If a levelingadjustment is required, such adjustment is made by rotating dial ordisclike member 22 which results in its upper surface being raised orlowered depending upon the direction of rotation, thereby raising orlowering the machine resting thereon. Upon completion of the levelingadjustment, the mounting unit is secured by securing nut 3 as notedheretofore.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications may be made without departing from theinvention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all suchchanges and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What I claim is: 1. A vibration isolating device for dissipatingvibration while supporting an object comprising in combination aconcave-convex composite spring member having an annular flangeextending peripherally outward from the concave-convex portion thereof,said flange having a substantially flat bottom surface expandable whensubjected to load and adapted to grippingly engage a support surface,

said composite spring member including a plurality of resilient wirelikemembers interwoven with each wirelike member frictionally engaging othersuch wirelike members and spaced apart with adjacent pairs of saidwirelike members defining interstices therebetween, and

a deformable casing member of resilient material disposed in saidinterstices and enclosing said wirelike members and cooperativelyengaged therewith,

said wirelike members and said casing member coacting synergisticallyand modifying their individual spring gradients and frictional dampingcharacteristics,

said composite spring member additionally including means carried bysaid composite member for connecting thereto an object to be supportedthereby, and positioning means rotatable relative to said connectingmeans for adjustably positioning an object relative to said 1 bottomsurface while said object is supported by said device with said bottomsurface disposed on a supporting surface.

2. Device according to claim 1 and additionally including additionalspring gradient modifying means comprising a washer of concave-convexshape substantially conforming with said concave-convex portion of saidcomposite member and disposed between said composite member and saidconnecting means.

3. Device according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes anelongate member having a threaded portion, and said positioning meansincludes an upper surface for supporting said object.

1. A vibration isolating device for dissipating vibration whilesupporting an object comprising in combination a concavo-convexcomposite spring member having an annular flange extending peripherallyoutward from the concavo-convex portion thereof, said flange having asubstantially flat bottom surface expandable when subjected to load andadapted to grippingly engage a support surface, said composite springmember including a plurality of resilient wirelike members interwovenwith each wirelike member frictionally engaging other such wirelikemembers and spaced apart with adjacent pairs of said wirelike membersdefining interstices therebetween, and a deformable casing member ofresilient material disposed in said interstices and enclosing saidwirelike members and cooperatively engaged therewith, said wirelikemembers and said casing member coacting synergistically and modifyingtheir individual spring gradients and frictional dampingcharacteristics, said composite spring member additionally includingmeans carried by said composite member for connecting thereto an objectto be supported thereby, and positioning means rotatable relative tosaid connecting means for adjustably positioning an object relative tosaid bottom surface while said object is supported by said device withsaid bottom surface disposed on a supporting surface.
 2. Deviceaccording to claim 1 and additionally including additional springgradient modifying means comprising a washer of concavo-convex shapesubstantially conforming with said concavo-convex portion of saidcomposite member and disposed between said composite member and saidconnecting means.
 3. Device according to claim 1 wherein said connectingmeans includes an elongate member having a threaded portion, and saidpositioning means includes an upper surface for supporting said object.